In 2004 the VH1 program Inside Out: The Rise of Velvet Revolver chronicled how former Guns N' Roses members — guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum — held auditions a year earlier in search of a lead singer for their new group. After meetings with musicians like Skid Row's Sebastian Bach and Travis Meeks of Days of the New, they finally picked former Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland. They also brought on Dave Kushner, formerly of Wasted Youth, as a second guitarist.
The group recorded its first album, Contraband, in late 2003 with tracks like "Fall to Pieces" and "Set Me Free," which appeared on the sound track for the movie Hulk. Rolling Stone called the album "the sound of the perfect A&R sales pitch turning into a real band." The band followed Contraband up with 2007's Libertad but shortly thereafter announced that Weiland would be leaving the band because of "erratic behavior" most likely tied to his ongoing struggle with drug abuse. Rumors have swirled ever since about who might become the new front man, but so far no deals have been made.